Outdoor Living for almost a Century!

Camp Kawartha has been providing meaningful outdoor experiences for children, youth and adults for over 85 years. Founded on the shores of Clear Lake by the Rotary Club of Peterborough in 1921, the camp has grown into a year-round learning centre dedicated to promoting natural awareness, recreational opportunities and leadership to the surrounding community and beyond.

The Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre operates from September until the end of June, providing dynamic and innovative programs grounded in the Ontario Curriculum for students from grade 1 to 12.

Please feel free to select any program,
which we can modify to suit older or younger students.

Outdoor Education Comes to Life for Students

Our staff strive to deliver nothing short of a magical experience for students in the natural environment. We believe we can do this by offering:

  1. Excellence in Programming
    Engaging and fun programsWe incorporate a wide variety of exciting teaching techniques including drama, storytelling, music, hands-on games and activities. Our programs are educational, engaging and fun! We are also able to tailor-design a program to fit a unit of classroom study or to modify existing programs to emphasize an area of learning that you want to focus on. Please refer to the teachers' feedback page for comments from teachers who have attended our Centre.

  2. Environmental Education
    With a wind turbine, passive and active solar systems and unique straw bale buildings, including a solar straw bale greenhouse, we provide students with concrete and inspiring examples of alternatives to fossil fuels. Our newly revised alternative energy program features solar cookers, solar ovens, model solar powered cars and a variety of hands-on and experientially based equipment.  Our renowned environmental programming teaches children about what animals and plants live in their community.  We are striving to reduce the "Nature Deficit Disorder" (a phrase coined by Richard Louv) by giving children an opportunity to engage with and learn from their own natural environment. 

  3. Commitment to Professionalism
    Dedicated StaffOur educators, all university graduates, many teacher-trained, share a lifetime commitment to excellence in education in the outdoors. They combine a wide range of knowledge and experience in natural science, history, geography, environmental studies, outdoor living skills, group development and adventure learning. Our staff is continually upgrading their skills by attending workshops, conferences and courses.

  4. Small Learning Groups
    Low student to instructor ratioAt the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre, students benefit from a low student to instructor ratio (usually one instructor to twelve students, or less). Our staff take the time to become acquainted with each student, providing them with the special attention they need to excel in outdoor learning.

  5. Flexibility
    You can select an experience which best suits your class, from an overnight visit to an entire week at the centre packed with field trips, adventure and exploration. (Most school visits are 2½ days in duration.) We work closely with you to design a program which best suits your class's budget, areas of interest and focus on the curriculum. Best of all, we make your stay here east to manage and easy to plan.

Our Commitment to Safety

We carefully examine all aspects of our programs on an ongoing basis to ensure they provide the highest standards of safety and care. Our ropes course, climbing wall and climbing equipment are inspected annually and our staff attend training courses to remain current in all aspects of risk management and safety.

Great Food!

Mealtimes are a special part of the day at our Centre as we gather for fellowship and delicious food. Our Centre's small size give our cook the time to prepare wholesome meals with fresh ingredients and local produce. Students and adults with special dietary needs are given individual attention and alternative meals. Nutritious snacks and fruits are available between meals and in the evenings. * Please note, we prohibit all foods that contain nuts or traces of nuts.

My daughter was part of a group of students from Kawartha Heights that visited Camp Kawartha. I just wanted to send a note to say thank you for the fun time.

My daughter is a vegetarian, she loved the food and really enjoyed her camp experience! Thanks for making the effort to make her meals equal to what other kids were getting. While many organizations say they offer vegetarian meals, its not often you find meat alternatives like tofu being offered.

Thanks so much for helping to make her stay enjoyable.

Darlene Sherwood
Parent

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